Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-04
FARM DRAINAGE.
Lecture by Prof. Barbour in the Farmers
Course

Course
The third lecture in the farmers course
under the auspices of the University and
state Agricultural college was delivered
by Prof. v G. Barbour of the University
at the lecture room of the experiment sta
ton building Friday afternoon. A
large class was present. Prof Barbour's
subject was Farm Drainage" The sub
ject was treated in thoroughly scientific
yet clear and practical manner The
speaker began by describing the different
kinds of drains in use by farmers, together
with their method Of construction. The
common open ditch drain, he said, Is eX-
pensive for various reasons and not per-
manent; whereas well constructed I'M
der-drain lasts so years or more. Open
drains also occupy too much of the land
and obstruct the work of the farm. They
are not to he recommended except under
unusual conditions. Brush drains are
apt to fill in with soil and become useless
\ good, efficient and fairly permanent
drain may he made with stone Stone
bitches are effective until filled in with
earth To guard against this the surface
of the earth along such drains should be
frequently examined. The most permanent
and efficient drain is one made of tiles
and 1t is generally cheaper than stone
cylindrical, fitting together in sections
They should not be laid without collars
The cost of making drains is principally
in digging the ditch and laying pipes
The size of n tile is Il matter of much i'm
portanCe. II Is well to use the smallest
size that will effect the object in view In
purchasing tile it should be stipulated
that every tile should be hard burned
one defective tile may destroy the elf
cheney of a whole lire.
The first thing to do in draining piece
of land is to form n definite plan of what
is to be done. The specifications for this
may be included under three heads:
|. The outlet OF the drain. . Its
location. 3 The size of tiles. The outlet
should ordinarily be situated at the lowest
part of the field. 1t should be constructed
to be permanent. II needs to be construct
good hydraulic MORTAR The location of
the drains require careful study. If the
field is large, greater economy will be
gained by having before one q good topog-
raphical map of the field. If the farmer
is not skilled in this work or the necessary
Instruments are not at hand, the map
should he made by a good surveyor.
The mains and sub mains should gen
orally be located along the valleys, follow
ing their windings to a certain extent.
The collecting drains should be placed AS
near the foot OF the slope as possible. The
sub-mains should run up the minor valleys.
The laterals should follow the line of o1lick-
est descent and should be parallel to each
other. The drains should have a fall of
one loot III 100, as u general rule. All
springs should be drained by drains run
nlng directly from them. The depth and
distance apart of the drains are important
The depth to which the water tables
should be lowered depends upon the crop
to be raised.
Shallow drains were generally used
when draining began to be first practiced !
but depth of four feet is now admitted !
to be the most beneficial for all soils. |
Deep draining has the most decided adj
in clay soils. 1t is the depth .
II the drain which regulates the escape of !
surface water The deeper the drain, the
quicker the water escapes. The deeper
trains are placed, the further they will |
iraw, in general. The necessity of silt
basins in building effective drains is evil
lent. They should be placed at those
points where there is change of grade in
iescent. 1T is a good plan to. arrange
trans so that they can he inspected at
different points by MEMS Of wells. Net
ing should be placed over the outlet to
prevent the entrance of vermin.
The field should be staked out accord
ng to the map previously prepared, and
very stake should have marked on it
he depth OF the drain at that point. The
grade should be determined before the
ligging of the drain is commenced.
bitches four feet deep need not be wider
an ~ inches at the surface
md four at the base The
york of excavation must begin at the
'utlet The main should not be dug to
is fullest depth at the outlet at first.
stones should be taken out if small and
unnelled under on gone around if large.
Detection tiles should he rejected. Under
burned tiles are pale in color, overturned
ire apt to be warped
In turning corners the end of the tile
nay be clipped off. If collars are not
used, the joint should be covered with
lotion cloth and strip of tin. The filing
need not be done until the tiles are all
AID. The best material for covering tiles
5 clay. Gravel is bad. Ordinarily the
5 the best available. When the bitches
ire filled they should be made higher
han the surrounding land. Lateral
trains should always enter the main at
he top When the tiles are all laid dcvia-
ions from the map should be noted, so
ases of stoppage the drain must be laid
,pen until the obstacle is found
lush long, slender stick up the drain,
md tap the water above. This work
hould be done in settled fair weather.
\ stiff clay soil may be thoroughly under
'idIheu, DuI IL SuOulu not De worked, or
attic allowed to be upon it, Immediately
fter it rains. The process Of draining is
Expensive. The Items of expense are in
luded under engineering and superinten-
ence, digging, laying of tile and construc-
ion of Sits. Generally it will be found
'est to obtain the services of surveyor
when possible. The cost of drainage per
ere Is usually from s21 to $40 per acre
In the discussion which followed these
POINTS were brought out by others. The
water tablets somewhat higher between
he drains than at the drains. Land can.
lot be drained which is 80 low that no
'utlet can be found. Stone ON top of
lie is an advantage in building drains,
70 as to take of part Of the water and
ecure natural channel 1t Is not necess-
ny to lay tile on plank, II the bottom of
he ditch is made smooth and hard. In
ow, mucky land open drains often do
VEIL if kept open.
Prof. Barbour's lecture was highly APP
'reciated by the farmers present The
leXt lecture in the course will be deliver
d by Mr.. A. Taylor. next Tuesday Mr..
taylor subject Is Fruit Culture" and
lie will perform the processes ot grating
nd pruning before the class